Refrigerator unit



May 23, 1939. M. KALISCHE R REFRIGERATOR UNIT Filed Sept. 6, 1935 I 3 Sheets-Sheet l R i m Y R c mm L 0 WA NW A O V1 w B 4 J a i m May 23, 1939. M. KALISCHER REFRIGERATOR UNIT Filed Sept. 6, 1935 3,Sheets-Sheet 2 I'lxurou KHLlSCHEi-a? BYL ATTOR y 3 1939- MFKALISCHERY 2,159,592

REFRIGERATOR UNIT Filed Sept. 6, 1935 3 sheets-she et 3 nmmni r m a INVENTOR MILTON Knusci-rza.

' 6 a BY%% 5 F: ca 4-. 25 ATTOR EY WITNESSES:

Patented May 23, 1939 UNITED STATES REFRIGERATOR UNIT Milton Kallscher, Springfield, Mass., assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 6, 1935, Serial No. 39,405

60laims.

My invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and has for an object to provide improved apparatus of this kind.

A further object of my invention is to provide improved cooling means for enclosed refrigerat ing machines.

Still further objects of my invention are to provide improved apparatus for fluid cooling a motor driven refrigerant compressor and to terminate the operation of the compressor,responsive to an abnormal operating condition of the compressor and/ or its driving motor.

These and other objects are effected by my invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a domestic "refrigerator constructed in accordance with my so invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 1III of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatusshown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the top cover 25 removed;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken through the motor compressor unit;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken through the float valve; and,

80 Fig, 6 is a diagram of the electrical connections for the compressor motor.

In practicing my invention, I provide a refrigerator cabinet having a compartment for housing the motor driven compressor; which compart- 36 ment may be above or below the food storage chamber. The motor compressor unit is preferably of the hermetically sealed type and in- 'cludes a jacket for fluid for cooling the casing of the unit. A radiator formed, preferably, of im- 40 perforate sheet metal walls spaced apart and joined at their margins, defines one or more of the walls of the compartment. Suitable connections are made for providing for the flow of cool-,

ing fluid between the casing jacket and the ra- 45 diator. Any suitable fluid may be employed for cooling but, preferably, a non-freezing solution is used so that the machines may be stored during cold weather in unheated enclosures. Circulation of the cooling fluid through the jacket and ra- 50 diator is obtained by thermo-syphonic action. A volatile fluid may be employed in which case the radiator structure functions as a condenser for the vapor generated by the heat of the compressor casing. 66 I employ a thermally actuated switch, preferably carried by the casing jacket, for controlling the operation of the compressor so that its operation is terminated when the temperature of the jacket or fluid contained therein increases to a predetermined abnormal value. The switch 6 is arranged to automatically condition the motor circuit for operation when the temperature of the casing falls below said value. By locating the switch on the jacket, or where it reflects thetemperature of the cooling fluid, protection 10 against abnormal operating conditions of the compressor and/or the driving motor is obtained as the heat of both is conducted to the casing and cooling fluid.

Referring now to the drawings, I have chosen 16 to show my invention applied to a domestic refrigerator cabinet having a plurality of insulated walls l0, which ,deflne a food storage chamber I l, cooled by an evaporator l2 disposed therein. The cabinet is provided with the usual access door i3 20 and is supported on legs l4 in a customary manner.

Refrigerant is circulated through the evaporator l2 by a motor driven refrigerant compressor unit, generally indicated at l5 and housed within a compartment l6, which I have shown, by

- way of example, at the top of the cabinet. The

compartment I6 is defined by front and side walls I! and i8 respectively, and the top wall In of the chamber 1 I. The rear wall of the compartment 3 I6 is defined by a radiator structure i9 which will be referred to more in detail hereinafter. A top wall or cover 2i is provided for the compartment, which wall is preferably removable.

Reference will now be had to Fig. 4, which 5 shows, in section, the motor driven compressor unit. Preferably, this unit is of the hermetically sealed type and includes a compressor 22 driven by an electric motor 23, which may be of any suitable type, such as, for example, an alternating current single-phase induction motor. The motor 23 and compressor 22 are supported by a frame 24 and are hermetically enclosed by a casing 25; the frame 24 being so supported within the casing 25 that heat is readily conducted thereby from both the compressor 22 and motor 23 to the casing-25. A jacket 26 for fluid for cooling the casing 25 is disposed, preferably, on the portion of the casing 25 which is in contact with the frame 24, but may, if desired, cover the entire outer surface of the casing.

Water may be used for cooling the compressor unit l5 but, preferably, a non-freezing solution is employed so that the machines may be stored in unheated warehouses without danger of dam- '55 till iii)

age due to freezing. Furthermore, a volatile fluid may be employed which is vaporized in the jacket 26 as it absorbs heat from the casing 25, but I prefer to use a liquid at atmospheric pressure as the circulating cooling medium. The heated fluid is cooled or condensed in the radiator I9 which communicates with the jacket 26 by means of conduits 21 and 28. Circulation of the cooling fluid through the jacket 26, conduits 21 and 28 and the radiator I 9 is effected by thermo-syphonic action.

The conduits 21 and 28 are preferably made flexible to permit relative movement between the unit I5 and the radiator I9, which movement is present when the unit I5 is spring mounted. Such mounting is shown at 29 in Fig. 2. The conduits 21 and 28 may be formed of short lengths of rubber tubing which are secured to the radiator I9 and the jacket 26 by hose clamps 29 and 3|. respectively.

The motor compressor unit I5 operates to circulate refrigerant through the evaporator I2 for extracting heat therefrom; the cycle employed being the well known compressor-condenser-expander cycle. The condenser for the system is preferably air cooled, being shown at 32 on the rear wall of the cabinet, and may be of the plate type. A float valve structure 33, shown in detail in Fig. 5, controls the flow of liquid refrigerant from the condenser 32 to the evaporator I2; the float valve 33 being disposed in a conduit 34 which provides communication between the condenser 32 and evaporator I2.

vaporized refrigerant is withdrawn from the evaporator i2 by the compressor 22 through a conduit 35 and is compressed and delivered at relatively high pressure to the condenser 32 through a conduit 36. Preferably, a. portion of the suction conduit 35 is disposed in heat exchanging relation with the vapor above the liquid in the float valve structure 33, as shown in Fig. 5. This arrangement provides for cooling of the vapor and non-condensable gases which may collect in the valve 33, so that the temperature and pressure of the gases therein are of a lower value than the values obtaining in the condenser. Trapping of the liquid and vapor flow into the valve structure 33 is thereby prevented.

The radiator i9, as shown, defines one of the walls of the'apparatus compartment it; but may be extended to define two or more of such walls. As best shown in Fig. 2, the radiator is formed of a pair of substantially flat plates st and 39 which are joined together along their margins, as shown at ii. Seam welding is preferably employed for connecting the margins of the plates 33 and til. The plate 39 may have tubular connections 32 and it formed thereon for receiving the flexible conduits ti and 28.

Protection against overheating of the motor and/or the compressor is provided by so disposing a thermally actuated switch that it responds to the heat generated by the compressor and motor. Preferably, the switch is carried by the portion of the casing 25 adjacent its connection with the frame it, as any change in temperature of the motor or compressor is quickly reflected at this location. The switch t5 may be made responsive to the temperature of the cooling medium in the jacket 26 in any well known manner. Preferably, the switch includes a thermally responsive element such as, for example, a bimetal strip 46 and a movable contact t7 actuated thereby. In Fig. 6, I have shown a diagram of connections of the motor 23, which receives current from line conductors LI--L2 and which may be controlled by the contact 41 connected in series with the motor winding. The motor may be conditioned for operation by a switch 48, which may be manually operated, or actuated by a device responsive to the temperature of the evaporator I2 in a well-known manner.

The temperature of the casing 25 and of the fluid in the jacket 26 'will rise, due to increased heat generated in both the motor and the compressor, and, therefore, if an abnormal condition prevails in either, it will be reflected by a temperature rise in the casing. The temperature at which the switch 45 operates to open the circuit may be predetermined. The switch opens to terminate the operation of the motor 23 and compressor 22 when said predetermined temperature is attained by the casing, and automatically closes, when the temperature falls below said value, to condition the motor circuit for operation. If the abnormal condition has not been removed, the switch 45 again terminates operation of the motor and the cycle will repeat until the switch 48 is opened. After the abnormal condition prevailing is removed, the switch 45 remains closed.

Liquid in the jacket 26 and radiator I9 circulates by thermo-syphonic action; the liquid heated in the jacket 26 rising and flowing to the top of the radiator through conduit 21. The liquid is cooled in the radiator I9 which radiates heat to the ambient atmosphere and the cooled liquid passes to the bottom of the radiator and back to the jacket 26 through conduit 3b.

In the event that a volatile liquid is employed, the vapor generated in the jacket 23 passes to the radiator It through conduit 21 and is cooled and condensed therein. Vapor and liquid circulate, therefore, by thermo-syphonic action in the jacket 26 and radiator i9 which functions as a condenser. When a volatile fluid is employed, it is preferable to elevate the condenser with respect to the jacket so that the level of the cooling fluid is adjacent the bottom of the radiator and adjacent the top of the jacket. Therefore, the jacket is filled, substantially, with liquid to be vaporized and a major portion of the radiator walls is available for abstracting heat from the vapor in the radiator.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided improved air cooled refrigerating apparatus, including a fluid cooled,.enclosed motor compressor unit, in which the enclosure for the unit is defined, at least in part, by air cooled means for abstracting the heat from the fluid. Furthermore, protection against overheating of the motor or the compressor is provided.

While I have'shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a cabinet structure having wall members for defining a storage chamber and an apparatus compartment therein, means for cooling the stor age chamber, a unit including a refrigerant com" pressor for circulating refrigerant through the cooling means and disposed within the apparatus compartment, an air cooled refrigerant condenser arranged exteriorly of the cabinet for condensing lib Gil

the refrigerant circulated by the compressor,

fluid containing means for cooling said unit and a radiator connected to said fluid containing means for dissipating heat abstracted from the unit by the fluid, said radiator being defined by at least a portion of the wall members of said apparatus compartment.

2. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a cabinet structure having'wall members for defining a storage chamber and an apparatus compartment therein, an evaporator for cooling said storage chamber, a compressor for circulating refrigerant through the evaporator and disposed within said apparatus compartment, a casing for hermetically enclosing said compressor, an air cooled condenser for condensing the refrigerant circulated by the compressor and disposed on the exterior of said cabinet structure, a fluid containing jacket associated with said casing for abstracting heat therefrom and a radiator communicating with said jacket for cooling the fluid therein, said radiator being defined by at least a portion of the wall members of the cabinet structure.

3. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a cabinet structure having insulated wall members defining a storage chamber and other enclosing walls defining an apparatus compartment, an evaporator disposed in said storage chamber for cooling the same, a refrigerant compressor arranged in the apparatus compartment for cir-' culating refrigerant through said evaporator, a casing for hermetically enclosing the compressor, a jacket having a fluid therein for cooling said casing, an air cooled condenser for condensing the refrigerant circulated by the compressor and disposed on the rear wall of the cabinet structure, a radiator for cooling said fluid, and defining one of said other enclosing walls, and a plurality of conduits connecting the jacket and the radiator and providing for the flow of fluid therebetween.

4. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a cabinet structure having wall members for defining a storage chamber and an apparatus compartment therein, means for cooling the storage chamber, a refrigerant compressor for circulating refrigerant through the cooling means and disposed within the apparatus compartment, an air cooled refrigerant condenser arranged exterior'ly of the cabinet for condensing the refrigerant circulated by the'compressor, said condenser being spaced from the cabinet for defining a flue therewith, fluid containing means for cooling said refrigerant compressor and a radiator connected to said fluid containing means for dissipating heat abstracted from the compressor by the fluid, said radiator being disposed adjacent one end of said flue.

5. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a refrigerant compressor, an electric motor for driving 'the same, a casing surrounding the motor and compressor and hermetically sealing the same, means for establishing a circulation of cooling fluid in contact with an inner surface of the casing for the transmission of heat therebetween, said cooling fluid being maintained out of contact with said motor and compressor, and a thermostat responsive to the outside temperature of the casing for controlling the energization of the motor.

6. In refrigeration apparatus, the combination of a refrigerant compressor, a motor for driving the compressor, a casing for hermetically sealing the motor and compressor, a fluid containing jacket carried by at least a portion of said casing, means' for passing a heat exchanging fluid through said jacket, and a thermostatically operated device secured to the outside of said jacket and responsive to the temperature thereof,

for controlling the energization of the motor.

MILTON KALISCHER. 

